20 goodreading ı MARCH 2010
Well, I'm glad I
read We Need to
Talk About Kevin. I t 's
an amazing book that
makes you think about
guilt and blame and
parenthood, and even a
month on I often find
myself thinking about it. But I have to
admit that although it was compelling,
I don't think I can call it an enjoyable
reading experience. For my next
book I'm going to read Señor Vivo and
the Coca Lord by Louis de Ber nières,
recommended by Kylie Dowd. I'll
send Kylie a copy of We Need to Talk
About Kevin. Here are some of the other
books that have been recommended
this month. Have you picked up a
book recommended in the Pass It On
column? I'd love to know what you
thought of it.
Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord
Louis de Bernières
This is one of the most underrated
books I've read (trilogies, in fact --
the other two books in the series are
The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal
Guzman). Whenever people talk about
this author, they only ever mention
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, which I
didn't particularly like and don't think
did justice to his creative genius. This
series is set in Latin America and blends
humour, whimsical fantasy and political
satire. It's also beautifully written.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
Kylie Dowd, Glenwood NSW
Raw Blue
Kirsty Eagar
Set in a surf culture,
19-year-old Carly
finds herself having
to face her fears and
feelings associated with
having been sexually
assaulted. I loved that
this young-adult novel was ultimately a
story of hope.The emotions and personal
jour ney Carly experiences are very real.
Being a surfer herself, Eagar's use of the
surf as a symbol is both powerful and
captivating. Raw Blue resonated with
me long after I'd finished reading.
Candice Lemon-Scott, Balnarring Vic
Someday Soon
David Crookes.
Set in 1942 Darwin,
it deals with the
Japanese attacks.The
story follows Faith Brodie,
her brother Joe and Joe's
Australian-born Japanese
friend, Koko. It shows
a picture that until now
was not allowed to be shown, of what
happened in Darwin and how it affected
the characters in the story. A really good
read in my opinion.
Claudia Francis,Weston NSW
No Place for a Woman
Mayse Young &
Gabrielle Dalton
We never hear anything
about Mayse Young,
he first outback publican in
the Northern Territory. No Place for a
Woman is a wonderful look at Australia
in the 1920s and the subsequent adult
life of Mayse. I loved it.
Jacque Zagotsis, Berri SA
The Diving Bell and the
Butterfly
Jean-Dominique Bauby
This would have to be the
most poignant, beautiful
and heart-wrenching book I
have ever read. It never got
the credit it deserved. The
painstaking and mammoth jour ney to
the heartbreaking end truly touched
my heart and changed my life!
Jo Miller,Wollongbar NSW
The Brutal Telling
Louise Penny
Canadian Writer Louise
Penny has written a
series of cosy mysteries,
featuring Ar mand Gamache
and the villagers of Three
Pines. They are wonderful
characters and each mystery is a
challenge. The latest book, The Brutal
Telling, kept me guessing until the final
unveiling of the murderer's identity.
Other books in the series are Still Life,
A Fatal Grace, The Cruelest Month and
A Rule Against Murder.
Katherine Stewart, Moss Vale NSW
Iggy Pop: Open up and bleed
Paul Trynks
Even if you're not a fan of The
Stooges, it's an entertaining
read and you'll marvel at the
work that went into it. Over
250 interviews are cited.
Sarah Hobbins,The Gap Qld
pass
it on!
The latest instalment
in ROWENA CSEH’s
book-club-with-a-twist.
readers' life 1